Apparatus for turning on



(No Model.)

LE ROY s.- WHITE. APPARATUS FOR TURNING 0N, LIGHTING, AND SHUTTING OFF GAS BY ELECTRICITY.

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Patented June 16 1885.

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N. PETERS. Phmunb w. wa-mn m o. c.

UNITED STATES FATENT OFFER LE ROY S. \VHITE, CF VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FOR TURNING ON, LIGHTING, AND SHUTTING OFF GAS BY ELECTRICITY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,105, dated Tune 16, 1885,

(No model.)

To It whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LE ROY S. WHITE, of \Vaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Turning On, Lighting, and Shutting Off Gas by Electricity, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, principally, to that class of apparatus in which the flow of gas is controlled by a valve which is connected with the core of an electro-magnet, whereby, when an electric currentis passed through the mag net, the core is raised to open the valve and effect the operation of the sparking devices, and when the core is free the valve closes by its own weight and the weight of the core. Examples of such apparatus may be found in my United States Letters Patent No. 282,816, dated August 7, 1883, and also in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 129,066, filed April 28, 1884.

With the apparatus shown in my said patent is employed adouble key for sending currents of opposite polarity. \Vhen one button of the key is pressed,the electro-magnet will be energized to raise the core, and if the current be of the right polarity it will affect the movement of a small permanent magnet, which is caused to obtrude itself in the way of the core and to form of itself a positive stop or block for holding the core raised and the valve open. A pressure 011 the second button will send a current of reverse polarity and move the permanent magnet in a direction to allow the core to fall and the valve to close.

In the apparatus which forms the subject of my aforesaid application the coreis locked or held raised and the valve open either by an armature actuated by the same magnet which opens the valve or by a spring, and the valve is unlocked by an indepem'lent electromagnet.

An important object of my invention is to provide an apparatus wherein there is only a single electro-magnet which raises the core to open the valve, and which may be operated by a single key, one pressure of the button serving to raise the core and open the valve and to effect the operation of the sparking may be either turned on full or to produce a half-light at the will of the operator, and by simply operating the key.

The invention consists in the combination, with a gas-burner, of an electro-magnet, a

core movable therein, and a valve connected with the core and adapted to be opened when the core is raised or moved by the energizing of the electro-magnet, and a notched regulator disk or wheel having notches of different depths, and a stop or detent engaging therewith and serving to hold the valve open or allow it to close, as may be desired, the notched regulator disk or wheel being car ried by the core and operating in conjunction with a fixed detent or stop, or the detent or stop being carried by the core and operating in conjunction with a stationary regulatordisk, all as more fully hereinafter described.

When the apparatus is only intended for a full light, I make the notches in the regulator disk or wheel of two depths, the deeper notches alternating with the shallower notches; but when intended to produce either a half-light or a full light I construct the regulator disk or wheel with intermediate notches between the deep and shallow notches, and when such intermediate notches receive the detent the valve will be held partly open. This feature is included in my invention. In apparatus of this class the gasyalve has usually been at the bottom of the case, and hence after the valve is opened an instant is required for the case to fill with gas andreach the burner-tip,where magnet. I preferably construct the head of the 9 electromagnet with a neck or projection fitting snugly in the tipapertu re of the burner, and having the valveseat at its upper end, and hence when the valve is opened the gas is delivered by the valve directly into the tip of the burner and instantly escapes therefrom and is ignited.

The invention also consists in a novel construction and combination of the sparking devices, which are operated by the core in its rising movement, as hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings are made 011 a scale larger than actual size.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a gas-bur ner and appurtenances embodying my invention, the valve being open. Fig. 2 is an elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the plane of the dotted line :0 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a notched regulator disk or wheel of modified form, hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a part 1y sectional view of the lower portion of the apparatus, illustrating a modification of my invention; and Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating another modification of my invention.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I will first describe the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

A designates the body of the case, which is closed at the lower end by a base-piece, A, which may be screwed thereinto,and is inter-' nally screw-threaded to fit the gas-pipe connection. (Not here shown.) At the top the body A is provided with the usual socket or neck, a, receiving the tip a within it.

3designates the coil of the eleetro-magnet, which is wound around a tube or fixed core, Z), and has at the lower end a head, 13, of insulating material, and at the upper end a head, 15*. The head 13 is preferably of soft iron, and serves as a part of the armature c, which extends downward into the tube I), on which the magnet-coil is wound.

C designates the movable core of the magnet, which is capable of sliding freely in the tube I) and terminates below the top of the eoil,asbest shown in Fig. 1. Itis advantageous to have the core terminate below the top of the magnet and insert the soft-iron armature 0 into the magnet, because then the magnet when energized will impart a greater movement to the core. The iron head B of the magnet has an upward projection or hub, c, which enters the burner-tip socket a, and which is bored axially,and has at its upper end a val veseat, 0*, and in its side gaspassages e". The core 0 has an upward prolongation,which may be of brass and which constitutes the stem 0 of the valve,and is surmounted by a puppetvalve, 0, fitted to the valveseat 0*. When the magnet is energized, the core 0 rises and lifts the valve from its seat. Thelower head, 13, of the magnet is cut away at I), as shown in Fig. 3, and hence the gas passes upward lreelypast the head B which is of less diameter than the internal diameter of the case; or is notched in its edge,and thence through the gas-passages 0 and the projection or neck 0'. The stem 0 is so much smaller in diameterthan the bore in the projection c that ample space is afforded for the passage of upward when the valve is opened.

It is advantageous to have the valve arranged above the magnet, and especially to have the valve'seat and valve in the tip-socket (6, because then the gas escapes directly at the tip the instant the valve is opened and ignition from the spark is certain.

The construction and arrangement of the sparking devices will be understood from Figs. 1. and 2. On the exterior of the case is an arm, d, supporting one of the contacts (1, and attached to the body A by two screws, (1) d, which are both of them insulated from the body A.

c designates an arm carrying the movable contact 6, and fixedon a small rockshaft, c", which passes transversely through the tip socket a. On the shaft 6, and within the tipsocket (r,is secured a toe or arm, 0, which, as shown, consists of a piece of metal doubled and clamped in desired position on the shalt by a screw, 0.

e designates a spring, which is here shown as secured to the arm a" (and therefore on the shaft c by the same screw,c", that clamps the arm 0 in place on the shaft. This spring is light and bears on the inner side of the tip a, and by its resilience serves to hold the movable contact a normally against the fixed coir tact d. A stop-pin, 0*, (shown in Fig. 2,) serves to limit the movement of the movable contact 0. The valve 0', in rising, strikes the arm 6 and imparts a turning movement to the rock-shaft sutiicicnt to move the contact 0 from the fixed contact (1, and when the valve falls contact is again made by the spring. The magnet is held in place in the case by the screw d, which secures the arm (I, and by another screw, (1, which is also insulated from the case. The linc-wirc f is attached to the screw (2.

In the insulating magnet-head B are plugs of metald (shown in Fig. 3,) which form nuts for the screws (Z d, and the opposite cmls of the magnetcoil Bare in contact with these nuts.

The construction and manner of securing the parts here shown are very desirable.

The magnet coil, its heads, the soft-iron armature, the core 0, the valve and seat, and devices, hereinafter described, for holding the valve open may all be properly adj ustcd, and a little white lead or other substance to make a tight joint having been applied to the pro- "ection c the whole is inserted as one )icce J t 1 The means for holding the valve open will be clearly understood from Fig. 1. On the core 0, below the magnet, are secured two disks, D D, having their edges turned toward each other and notched, as shown. Depending from the magnet-head B is an arm having its end projecting inward beyond the perimeter of and between the notched edges of the disks D D, to form a detent or stop, 9. As shown, the notches of the lower disk, D, form ratchet-shaped teeth, and the notches of the upper disk, D, which are alternately deep and shallow, overlap in a vertical line-thatis, the points between the notches of the upper disk stand opposite the inclined faces of the teeth or notches in the lower disk. The notches of the upper disk may be termed whole and half notches; and when the core (3 is supported by a shallow or half notch, 1, resting on the detent g, the valve will be held open, as shown; but when a whole notch, 2, comes opposite the detent the core will be allowed to fall sufficiently to close the valve, and will be supported by the valve.

The purpose of the overlapping arrangement of notches in the two disks is to produce a stepby-step turning of the core as the disks are brought alternately against the detent by the rising and falling of the core, and in this way to bring alternately shallow and deep notches opposite the detent. Suppose, for example, that the disk D rests with a half or shallow notch, 1, upon the detent, and the valve is held open, as shown, the burner being lighted, a current is passed through the magnet and the core rises suddenly, bringing an inclined face of a tooth or side of a notch in the disk D forcibly against the detent g, and thereby turning the core and disks to such an extent that when the current ceases and the core falls a deep or whole notch, 2, will come upon the detent g, and the core will be allowed to fall sut'ficiently to close the valve. hen the mag net is again energized and the core raised, the inclined side of the next notch in the disk D strikes the detent and turns the core to such an extent that when it falls a shallow or half notch, 1, will come on the detent y, and the valve will be held open. Thus I provide for operating the apparatus to let on and light the gas, or to shut ofi'the gas, by a single pressure on the button of a simple key.

By a very slight modification I am enabled to automatically turn the gas half on for a half-light, which is a result not, as I believe, heretofore accomplished in automatic burners. To this end I make the disk D, as shown in Fig. 4, with three quarter-notches, 3, between the whole and half notches 2 1. Suppose that the valve is closed, a whole notch, 2, straddling the deteut g, by one pressure of the button of the key a threequarter notch, 3, is brought upon the detent, giving a half-light. By a second pressure a halfnotch, 1, is brought upon the detent, giving a full light. By a third pressure a three quarter notch is brought upon the detent, partly shutting off the gas; and by a fourth pressure a whole notch is again brought opposite the detent, wholly sh utting off the gas.

In the example of my invention shown in Fig. 5 the several parts not shown may he of the same construction as is shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

The notched disks or flanges D D are an ranged reversely to what is shown in Fig. 1. the disk or flange D, having the whole and half notches 2 1, being lowermost and formed upon the base-piece A, and the disk or flange 1), with the ratchet-shaped notches, being se cured in the body A of the case. The arrangement of the two disks or notched l'langes is the same as before described, in that the pro jections or teeth between the notches 1 and 2 of thelower flange, D, are oppositethe inclined faces of the teeth or sides ol the notches ol" the upper disk.

On the core 0 is a projecting pin or arm, g, which forms a stop or deteut to hold the core elevated, and, as shown, this pin or arm rests in a halt notch, 1, and the core is held in an elevated position with the valve open. When a. current is passed through the magnet-coil,(not shown,) the coreOwill be raised, and the pin g, striking on the inclined tooth or side of the notch above, will turn the core to such an extent that when it falls its said pin or arm will drop into a hole or deep notch, 2, and allow the valve to close. A second current will again raise the core, and by bring ing the pin g against the next inclined surface of the disk or regulator D will turn the core sufficiently to insure the pin or deteut 9 dropping into the next shallow or halt notch l, and the valve will consequently beheld open.

In the example of the invention shown in Fig. 6 the parts not shown may be as before described. In this case the lower magnethead, B, is secured by screws (1 d, as before described, in the body A of the case, and the base-piece is nowise dii'i'erent from that shown in Fig. 1. The tube b,around which the magnet-coil (not here shown) is wound, is prolonged below the head B,and is slotted on one side, as shown at it. On this tube, and on opposite sides of the slot, are two arms or projections, g g, which form fixed stops or abutments, and the lower one of which, ,is shown as having a sharp upper edge.

1) designates the regulating-wheel, which is secured upon a little shaft or pin, 5, journaled transversely in the core 0 and tree to turn therein. The slot 7L serves to accommodate this shaft or pin as the core rises and falls. The wheel D* has deep and shallow or whole and half notches 2 1, and it will be obvious that when the core descends and brings a half-notch, 1, upon the detent g, the core will be held up so1newhat,with the valve (not here shown) open. 011 the contrary,

when the core,in descending,brings a deep or whole notch, 2, onto the detent g, the core will be allowed to fall suffieiently to close the valve. The wheel D is turned step by step a half-notch at a time by contact with the upper and lower detents as the core rises and falls, carrying the wheel with it.

As shown in the drawings, the core is in its highest position with the wheel 13* in engagement with the upper detent, g. As the core falls a haltnotch, 1, strikes on the detent g, and thereby holds the core elevated, and as the core is again drawn up the wheel strikes the detent I and is turned to such an extent'as to bring a deep or wholenotch, 2, on the detent y, when the core again falls.

From the above description it will be seen that the mechanical appliances employed to hold the valve open and release it when desired are very simple and certain in their operation, and by this part of my invention I dispense with all magnets save the main electro-magnet and the sot't-iron armature.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a gasburner, of an eleetro-magnet, a core and gasvalve to be operated by the magnet to open the valve, and a mechanism for controlling the closing of the valve, comprising a notched regulator disk or wheel having notches of varying depth, and a stop or detent acting in conjunction with the deeper notches to al ow the valve to close and with the shallower notches to hold the valve open, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with a gas burner, of an cleetro-magnet, a core and gasyalve to be operated by the n'iagnet to open the valve,and mechanism for controlling the closing of the valve, comprising a notched regulator disk or wheel having whole, halt", and three-quartcr notches, and a stop or detent operating in conjunction therewith, substantially as herein de scribed.

3. The combination, with a gas-burner, of an eleetro-magnet, a core and gas-valve to be operated by the magnet to open the valve,and mechanism for controlling the closing of the valve, comprising a notched regulator disk or wheel carried by the core, and a stop or detent occupying a fixed position and operating in conjunction with the regulator disk or wheel, substantially as herein described.

4. The combination, with a gas-burner, of an electronmgnet, a core, and gasvalve to be operated by the core to open the valve, the two oppositely-arranged and notched regulator disks or flanges, D D, and the interposed stop or detent g, acting in alternate conjunction with the said disks or flanges to turn the core and thereby control the closing of the valve, substantially as herein described.

5. The combination, with a gas-burner, of an elcetroanagnet, a core, and a gas-valve operated thereby to open the valve, the oppositelyarrangcd notched regulator disks or flanges D D, carried by the core, the upper one, D, having notches of varying depth, and the lower one, D, having ratchet-like teeth, and a stop or detentyg, substantially asherein described.

6. The combination, with a gas-burner, oi an eleetro-magnet and a case theret'or having a gas-inlet at the bottom and a gas-outlet at the top, a core to be operated by the magnet, and a gas valve attached to said core and arranged above the magnet, sul'istantially as and for the purpose herein described.

7. The combination, with a gas-burner, of an eleetro-magnet and a case therefor having a gas-inlet at the bottom and a tip-socket at the top, the head of the magnet having an upward projection entering the tip socket and forming a valve-seat, a core movable within the magnet, and a valve-stem attached to said eore working upward through the seat, and provided above the seat with a valve, sub stantially as herein described.

8. The combination, with a gasburner, of an electromagnet and its movable core and a case therefor, having a gas-inlet at the bottom and a tip-socket at the top, a valve seat in the tip socket, and a valve closing thereon and operated by the eleetro-magnet and its core, substantially as herein described.

9. The combination, with a gas-burner and a fixed contact thereon, of a case having atipsocket at the top, a rock-shaft carrying outside the tip-socket an arm and movable contact and provided inside the socket with a toe or cam, an eleetro-magnet in said case, and a movable core provided with an upward prolongation for acting 011 the said toe or cam, substantially as herein described.

10. The combination,with a gas-burner and a fixed contact, d,thereon, ot' a case, A A, having the tip-socket a, the rock shat't c and its arm 0, and contact 0, the toe e, and spring 0, an eleetro-magnet in the ease, and a core therefor having an upward prolongation for operating the said toe or arm a, snbstantiall y as herein described.

LE .tOY S. \VHITE. Witnesses:

thus. N. GiLLn'rrrn, \VM'. M. Giipnnhurn. 

